Dimming circuit for controlling electrical power

ABSTRACT

A dimming circuit includes an isolated DC voltage source that is selectively coupled to a switch through which power is supplied from a source to a load. In a disclosed example, the switch comprises two MOSFETs. The isolated DC voltage source is selectively coupled directly to the gate and source of the MOSFETs to set them into an operative state for providing power to the load. A controller controls another switch that is operative to selectively control when the isolated DC voltage source is coupled to the switch.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/684,834, filed on Mar. 12, 2007.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

This application relates to controlling electrical power to a load. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to a dimming circuit forcontrolling electrical power to a load.

2. Description of the Related Art

Devices for controlling electrical power to a load such as a light arewell known. The most basic is a switch that allows an individual to turna light (or another device) on or off. Some switches include a dimmingfunction that allows an individual to customize the amount of power thatis provided to a light to achieve a desired amount of illumination. Forexample, some switches have a manual adjustor that allows an individualto select the brightness of a light.

Various dimmer switch configurations have been proposed. Some are usefulfor controlling the power that is available through a conventional wallsocket. One example use of such dimmer switches is to provide lightcontrol within a room without providing a dedicated light source andswitch on a separate circuit. Instead, a builder will sometimes providea dimmable wall socket into which a lamp may be plugged as a way ofproviding dimmable light within a room. This is less expensive thanproviding a separate lighting circuit and switch.

While various arrangements of such devices are know, those skilled inthe art are always striving to make improvements. One area in whichimprovement is desired is that there is a desire to reduce the expenseand complexity of such devices. Many such devices include a reversephase control circuit that includes two MOSFET switches in a knownarrangement. Controlling MOSFETs throughout an AC cycle is difficult. Ithas been proposed to include an RC circuit for controlling the voltageapplied to the gate and source of the MOSFET switches. The inclusion ofa full wave rectifier reduces the efficiency of the overall circuitry.It would be desirable to have a more economical alternative.

SUMMARY

An exemplary dimming circuit includes an isolated DC voltage source thatis selectively coupled to the gate and source of MOSFET switches thatcontrol power supply to a load.

In one example, a control module controls a switch that selectivelycouples the isolated DC voltage source to the gate and source of theMOSFET switches, which controls the amount of power supplied to the loadthrough the MOSFET switches.

The various features and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can bebriefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an overall electrical power control system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a dimmer circuit designed according to oneembodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a lighting control circuit 20 for a building. A pluralityof dimmer switches 22A, 22B communicate through a wireless connection toa multi-channel receiver 24. The receiver 24 is one example comprises acommercially available component. One example is available from Enoceanunder its Product No. RCM130C. The use of a wireless receiver andwireless switches are not limiting on this invention, but only mentionedas one possible type of system. The wireless connection between theswitches 22 and the receiver 24 allows for the switches to be locatedremotely from the receiver 24. For example, the receive 24 may besupported at or near an electrical outlet in a selected room and theswitches may be positioned at any convenient other location within ornear the room.

The receiver 24 communicates with a microcontroller 26, which in turncommunicates with dimmer circuit 28. The dimmer circuit 28 controls theintensity of several lights 30A, 30B. The illustrated dimmer circuit 28includes timing circuitry 40, a dimmer portion 42 and a power trainportion 44. The illustrated example also includes an overload protectionportion and a thermal management portion.

One example embodiment of the dimmer circuit 28 is illustrated in FIG.2. The microcontroller 28 provides a timing control signal input to thetiming portion 40. The timing control signal in one example comprises apulse width modulation control signal. The timing control signalcontrols when the dimming portion 42 activates the MOSFET switches 46 ofthe power train portion 44 to control the amount of power supplied to aload 50. The microcontroller 26 determines how to set the timing controlsignal based upon what setting a user selects (e.g., what dimming levelis desired). In one example, the microcontroller 26 uses knowntechniques for providing the pulse width modulation input to achieve adesired corresponding amount of dimming.

In the illustrated example, the power train portion 44 includes theMOSFETs 46 because they are efficient for certain power levels (e.g., upto about 600W). Another example is useful with higher powers andincludes an IGBT in place of the MOSFETs 46.

One example load 50 is a light bulb. Controlling the light intensity ofa bulb is one example use of the illustrated arrangement. In thisexample, the load 50 is plugged into a wall socket having terminalsschematically represented at 52 and 54

The MOSFETs 46 in one example operate according to a known reverse phasecontrol strategy when the gate and source of each is coupled with asufficient voltage to set the MOSFETs 46 into an operative state (e.g.,turn them on) so that they allow power from a source 56 (e.g., line AC)to be supplied to the load 50. In the reverse phase control example, theMOSFETs 46 are turned on at 0 volts and turned off at a high voltage. Inanother example a forward phase control strategy is used where theMOSFETs 46 turn on at a high voltage and off at 0 volts. Another exampleincludes turning the MOSFETs 46 on at a non-zero voltage and turningthem off at another non-zero voltage.

The dimming portion 42 controls when the power train portion 44 is onand, therefore, controls the amount of power provided to the load 50.Controlling the amount of power provided to a light bulb controls theintensity of light emitted by the bulb, for example.

In this example, an isolated DC voltage source 60 is selectively coupleddirectly to the gate and source of the MOSFETs 46 for setting them toconduct for delivering power to the load. The isolated DC voltage source60 has an associated floating ground 62. A switch 64 responds to thetiming control signal input from the microcontroller 26 and enters anoperative state (e.g., turns on) to couple the isolated DC voltagesource 60 to the MOSFETs 46. In the illustrated example, the switch 64comprises an opto-coupler component. Other examples include a relayswitch or a transformer component for selectively coupling the isolatedDC voltage source 60 to the MOSFETs 46.

In one example, the isolated DC voltage source 60 provides 12 volts. Inanother example, a lower voltage is used. The voltage of the isolated DCvoltage source 60 is selected to be sufficient to turn on the MOSFETs 46to the saturation region.

One example includes using an isolated DC-DC converter to achieve theisolated DC voltage source 60. Another example includes a second-stagetransformer. Those skilled in the art who have the benefit of thisdescription will realize what components will work best for including anisolated DC voltage source in their particular embodiment.

The illustrated example includes voltage controlling components forcontrolling the voltage that reaches the gate and source of the MOSFETs46. The illustrated example includes resistors 66 and 68 and a zenerdiode 70. The resistor 66 sets the turn on speed or the time it takes toturn on the MOSFETs 46. The resistors 66 and 68 set the turn off speedor the time it takes to turn off the MOSFETs 46. In one example, theresistor 68 has a much higher resistance compared to that of theresistor 66 such that the resistor 68 effectively sets the turn off timefor the MOSFETs 46. Selecting an off speed and on speed allows foravoiding oscillation of the MOSFETs 46 and avoiding generating heat ifthe MOSFETs 46 were to stay in a linear operation region too long.

The zener diode 70 provides over voltage protection to shield theMOSFETs from voltage spikes and noise, for example. The zener diode 70is configured to maintain the voltage provided to the MOSFET gate andsource inputs at or below the diode's reverse breakdown voltage in aknown manner. One example does not include a zener diode.

One advantage to the disclosed example is that the MOSFETs can be fullycontrolled during an entire AC cycle without requiring a rectifier. Thedisclosed example is a more efficient circuit arrangement compared toothers that relied upon RC circuitry and a rectifier for controlling theMOSFETs.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature.Those skilled in the art may realize certain modifications to thedisclosed example that do not necessarily depart from the essence ofthis invention. The following claims should be studied to determine thetrue scope and content of this invention.

1. A dimmer circuit comprising: at least one switch configured to beplaced between a power source and a load; and an isolated DC voltagesource that is distinct from the power source and that is selectivelycoupled to the at least one switch for controlling the switch to providepower from the source directly to the load.
 2. The dimmer circuit as setforth in claim 1, wherein the at least one switch comprises two MOSFETsand the isolated DC voltage source is selectively coupled with the gateand the source of the MOSFETs.
 3. The dimmer circuit as set forth inclaim 1, comprising a second switch between the isolated DC voltagesource and the at least one switch, the second switch having a firstoperative state in which the isolated DC voltage source is coupled tothe at least one switch and a second operative state where the isolatedDC voltage source is disconnected from the at least one switch.
 4. Thedimmer circuit as set forth in claim 3, wherein the second switchcomprises an opto-coupler.
 5. The dimmer circuit as set forth in claim3, comprising a controller that provides a timing control signal thatcontrols the operative state of the second switch for selectivelycoupling the isolated DC voltage source to the at least one switch. 6.The dimmer circuit as set forth in claim 5, wherein the timing controlsignal comprises a pulse width modulation signal configured to achieve adesired amount of power delivery through the at least one switch to theload.
 7. The dimmer circuit as set forth in claim 1, comprising at leastone voltage controlling component between the isolated DC voltage sourceand the at least one switch for limiting a voltage applied to the atleast one switch.
 8. The dimmer circuit as set forth in claim 7, whereinthe at least one voltage controlling component comprises a zener diode.9. The dimmer circuit as set forth in claim 7, wherein the at least onevoltage controlling component comprises a first resistor that isoperative to control a turn on time of the at least one switch and asecond resistor that is operative to control a turn off time of the atleast one switch.
 10. A method of controlling a dimmer circuitcomprising: selectively coupling an isolated DC voltage source to atleast one switch through which power is provided from a power sourcedirectly to a load, wherein the power source is distinct from the DCvoltage source.
 11. The method of claim 10, comprising selectivelycontrolling a second switch between the isolated DC voltage source andthe at least one switch such that the second switch controls when theisolated DC voltage source is coupled to the at least one switch. 12.The method of claim 10, comprising limiting the voltage provided by theisolated DC voltage source to the at least one switch to keep theprovided voltage at or below a selected value.
 13. The method of claim10, wherein the at least one switch comprises two MOSFETs.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, comprising using the two MOSFETs for reverse phasecontrol.
 15. A dimmer circuit comprising: at least one switch configuredto selectively allow power from a power source to be provided to a load;and an isolated voltage source that is distinct from the power source,and that is channeled to the at least one switch for controlling theswitch to provide power from the power source directly to the load. 16.The dimmer circuit of claim 15, comprising: an opto-coupler thatselectively couples the isolated voltage source to the at least oneswitch.
 17. The dimmer circuit as set forth in claim 16, wherein the atleast one switch comprises two MOSFETs and the isolated voltage sourceis selectively coupled with the gate and the source of the MOSFETs.